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Questions & Answers about Bor du i ett hus?
Why does the sentence start with Bor instead of Du in Swedish?
In Swedish yes/no questions, the verb often comes first. So Bor du i ett hus? literally looks like “Live you in a house?” but it translates to “Do you live in a house?” in English. The simple rule is to move the verb to the front when forming a direct question.
What is the difference between bor and lever in Swedish?
Bor means “live” in the sense of where you reside (your dwelling place). Lever means “live” in the sense of being alive, focusing on the state of living rather than where you live. So you would say Jag bor i Stockholm (I live in Stockholm) but use Jag lever to emphasize “I am alive.”
Why do we use ett instead of en before hus?
Swedish nouns are either en-words or ett-words. Hus happens to be an ett-word. You merely have to memorize which nouns are en-words and which are ett-words because there is not always a clear pattern.
Why do we need the preposition i?
In Swedish, when describing the place where someone resides, you usually use i (meaning “in”). So if you want to say you live in a house, you say Bor … i ett hus, or if you live in an apartment, Bor … i en lägenhet.
Can I say Bor du i huset? instead?
Yes, but it implies a different meaning. Bor du i ett hus? asks, “Do you live in a house (as opposed to another type of living space)?” Bor du i huset? uses the definite form huset, suggesting you’re talking about a specific house already known to both you and the other person.
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